|
|
|
| June 23, 2002 | Sunday | Rabi-us-Sani 11, 1423 |
It’s party time for host nation
SEOUL, June 22: Millions of South Korean soccer fans screamed, cried and roared themselves hoarse on Saturday after their team’s nail-biting World Cup quarterfinal victory over Spain.
Fans dressed in red and pumped up from a high-octane party even before kick-off sang victory chants and screamed “Dae Han Min Kuk” (Republic of Korea) in the heart of Seoul as they celebrated their side beating Spain on penalties to become the first Asian team to reach the World Cup semifinals.
Police said some 4.5 million — about 10 percent of the country’s 48 million population — clogged the country’s streets to watch Dutch-born coach Guus Hiddink’s team slay another soccer giant and rewrite history for the second time in five days.
“There is nothing better than this feeling. We’ll party all night long,” said Noh Yu-sook, a 38-year-old Seoul woman.
Multi-coloured fireworks whizzed into the air, confetti fluttered from office blocks and a giant banner of Hiddink was unfurled from one building in central Seoul amid wild scenes.
“Let’s go to Yokohama!” read the wording on the giant banner, which showed Hiddink in silhouette executing his trademark uppercut celebratory punch. Yokohama is the city in co-host Japan where the final will be played on June 30.
Pumping pop music accompanied 1.9 million people in the capital’s central Kwanghwamoon area. Fans, almost all in red team T-shirts, hugged each other and danced the conga. Many people were sending text messages or phoning friends on mobile phones, a ubiquitous feature of life in tech-savvy South Korea.
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” said Suh Sung-won, 34. “I bet we will go to the final. The Korean team is invincible.”
“Hiddink, I love you!” screamed college student Yun Eun-hee.
South Korea beat Spain 5-3 on penalties after the match ended goalless at the end of extra time. They will play Germany in the semifinals in Seoul on June 25, normally a sombre day when South Korea remembers the blitz invasion by communist North Korean troops that started the Korean War in 1950.—Reuters
|
|
|
|
